Available in 2024
Course code

POLI3150

Units

10 units

Level

3000 level

Course handbook

Description

Issues in International Relations focuses on key issues within international relations and does so with specific focus on South-East Asia, Australia, China and the United States. The course looks at the issue of power, stability and legitimacy of political regimes, particularly when such regimes are not liberal democracies, and the impact of this on international relations. It considers the impact of international processes such as globalisation on political regimes as well as the impact of economic development and economic crises on these regimes. It looks at issues of foreign policy between political regimes, such as Australia, Indonesia and East Timor. It also looks at relations between China and the United States, the impact of this on the wider world and its foreign policy implications for Australia.


Availability2024 Course Timetables

Newcastle City Precinct

  • Semester 1 - 2024

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the nature and significance of politics and governance

2. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of differences in political systems and the contexts in which they operate

3. Apply concepts and theories used in the study of political science to the analysis of interests, ideas, institutions and political behaviour

4. Critically evaluate different interpretations of political phenomena

5. Demonstrate the capacity to use different research methods used to investigate political phenomena

6. Demonstrate the capacity to develop evidence-based argument and evaluation

7. Gather, organise and use evidence from a variety of secondary and primary sources

8. Identify, investigate, analyse, formulate and advocate solutions to problems

9. Communicate effectively in oral and/or written work


Content

The course content will be drawn from but not restricted to:

  1. Debates about the development of the Western system of relations between states from the Treaty of Westphalia to the present.
  2. Detailed analysis of core theoretical concepts such as liberalism, realism, neo-realism, multilateralism, unilateralism.
  3. Discussion of the role of war as an extension of politics and the role of diplomacy and statecraft.
  4. Introduction to issues such as human security, environmental security, war crimes and a consideration of the role and justification for the use of weapons of mass destruction.
  5. Introduction to core security issues and concepts.

Requisite

Students must have successfully completed POLII1010 or POLI1020.


Assessment items

Presentation: Recorded Presentation

Written Assignment: Briefing Paper

Written Assignment: Major Essay


Contact hours

Semester 1 - 2024 - Newcastle City Precinct

Integrated Learning Session-1
  • Face to Face On Campus 2 hour(s) per week(s) for 13 week(s) starting in week 1
  • Students are expected to complete 4 hours of guided learning via online preparation, lectures, interactive workshops, tutorials, discussion groups or self-directed learning and an additional 6 hours of independent study per week.

Course outline